Weizman to Cairo to Seek Accord on Price of Oil to Israel

November 5, 1979

TEL AVIV (Nov. 4)

Defense Minister Ezer Weizman left for Cairo today in an effort to reach an agreement with Egypt on the price of the Sinai oil Egypt will sell Israel after the oilfields are turned over to the Egyptians later this month. Weizman was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mustapha Khalil and Defense Minister Kamal Hassan Ali today and President Anwar Sadat tomorrow.

The price is the only point to be settled on the sale of the oil. Egypt has already agreed to sell Israel two million barrels a year.

Premier Menachem Begin decided to send Weizman to Egypt to discuss the oil issue rather than Energy Minister Yitzhak Modai because the Defense Minister had already begun talks on the problem with Sadat and Khalil during his visit to Cairo 10 days ago. Weizman was accompanied by Gen. Abraham Tamir, head of planning, and Lt. Col. Ilan Tehila his secretary.